Politico’s Katherine Tully-McManus, Jennifer Scholtes and Meredith Lee Hill reported Monday evening that “top lawmakers were still negotiating the final details Monday night of a stopgap spending patch tied to a slew of other last-ditch priorities as Friday’s federal government shutdown deadline grows closer.” “While negotiations on the funding patch itself are resolved, disputes continue […]
Politics
Ag Market Aid Talks Reach Stalemate in Congress
Agri-Pulse’s Philip Brasher reported over the weekend that “negotiations over a package of market relief assistance for farmers reached an impasse Saturday after Democratic leaders rejected the latest GOP proposal, and several major farm groups called on lawmakers to oppose a stopgap spending bill if the economic aid is omitted.” “The Republican proposal failed to […]
Trump Picks Pesticide Critic Makary as FDA Commissioner
Agri-Pulse’s Steve Davies reported at the end of November that “Marty Makary, a highly acclaimed surgeon who is an outspoken critic of the U.S. food system, the use of pesticides, and of COVID-19 vaccine mandates, was selected by President-elect Donald Trump on Friday as the new commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.” “Marty Makary, […]
Farm Bill Extension a Priority as Congress Returns
Progressive Farmer’s Chris Clayton reported Monday that “Congress returns this week facing a Dec. 20 deadline to approve a new funding resolution to keep the government operating, as well as potentially pass a disaster package and a farm-bill extension before wrapping up the year.” “Lawmakers will be negotiating the funding and provisions of a disaster […]
Trump Picks Brooke Rollins for Ag Secretary
Reuters reported Sunday that “U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Brooke Rollins, president of the America First Policy Institute, to be agriculture secretary.” “‘As our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will spearhead the effort to protect American Farmers, who are truly the backbone of our Country,’ Trump said in a statement,” Reuters reported. “If confirmed […]
Ag Industry Groups Concerned Over Deportation Plans
Bloomberg’s Kim Chipman, Joe Mathieu, and Tarso Veloso reported Tuesday that “President-Elect Donald Trump’s threat of mass deportations risks hurting the domestic agriculture sector already struggling with labor shortages.” “That’s according to Matt Carstens, chief executive officer of Iowa’s biggest farm cooperative, who said Trump’s plan should be approached carefully. Farming would be one of […]
Ag Committee Member John Thune Elected Senate Majority Leader
Agri-Pulse’s Rebekah Alvey reported Wednesday that “Senate Republicans on Wednesday elected South Dakota Sen. John Thune, who has a deep background in agriculture and trade policy, as the chamber’s next majority leader.” “Thune is a longtime member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and the Finance Committee, which handles tax and trade policy, and currently holds […]
Zeldin Picked to Lead EPA, Lighthizer Not Asked to Tackle Trade
NPR’s Elena Moore reported Monday that “President-elect Donald Trump has tapped former New York congressman Lee Zeldin to run the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The nomination for EPA administrator will need confirmation from the Senate, where Republicans are poised to hold a majority of seats next term.” “‘[Zeldin] will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions […]
Two Ag Committee Incumbents Lose, Many Races Remain Undecided
The House and Senate Agriculture Committees will see changes to membership this upcoming legislative session after at least two incumbent committee members, New York Representative Marcus Molinaro and Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, were not re-elected. As of 8 a.m. EST Thursday, those races are the only current losses for incumbents on either the House or […]
House & Senate Ag Committee Shakeups Likely in Today’s Election
As Americans head to the polls today for election day, “one-fourth of the members of the House Agriculture Committee are in tight re-election races, according to political handicappers, a factor in the likely upheaval of the committee roster in 2025,” Successful Farming’s Chuck Abbott reports. “Turnover is a fact of life on the committee — […]
Trump Confirms RFK Jr. Would Tackle Food and Health Policy
Politico’s Grace Yarrow reported Monday that “former President Donald Trump confirmed to Joe Rogan in a podcast episode released Friday that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former presidential candidate and current MAHA (“Make America Healthy Again”) crusader, would have a place in his administration to focus on health and food policy.” “‘I’m gonna let him […]
Food and Ag PACs Largely Supporting Republicans
Agri-Pulse’s Jake Zajkowski reported Wednesday that “political action committees sponsored by farm organizations, agribusiness firms and electric cooperatives have given nearly $27 million altogether to congressional campaigns in the 2024 campaign.” “House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-Pa., topped the list with about $158,000 in donations, while Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., in line to […]